On Wednesday 12 September 2007, Public Service Association (PSA) President Lindsay Oxlad and Industrial Officer Josie Barbaro attended a meeting of the Shared Services Reform Office (SSRO) Workforce Consultative Group (WCG), the peak body to discuss employee related issues associated with the reform process.

SSRO representatives provided the following update;

• Pre-transition Discovery Process: This process is nearing completion after worksite visits to selected agencies observed work practices in Payroll, Accounts Payable and Receivable. SSRO will provide a summary to the PSA once the process is complete. A general discovery process will then occur with other agencies not yet included. The PSA noted that in choosing a cross-section of agencies, none were selected which specifically deal with Infrastructure which require particular processes. SSRO noted this, and acknowledged the general discovery process could uncover examples such as these.

• Queensland Shared Services Experience: A summary of the report was given which provided useful information on some of the successes and failures of the Queensland experience to date. It was noted there were some obvious differences, particularly that South Australia is at a better starting point in terms of ICT, and therefore unlikely to achieve the scale of cost savings that Queensland achieved. The Queensland model is continuing to evolve with the Report recommending a model for the future.

• Inter-jurisdictional Meeting: Staff from the SSRO recently attended a meeting of interstate counterparts to discuss experiences and the current position of shared services and information was provided on interstate progress.

• Agency Briefings: SSRO are looking to hold a second series of agency briefings following the approval of the Cabinet Submission currently being prepared.

• Government ICT Services Transition: Previously a part of the former DAIS, this group will now become absorbed into the Shared Services Office. At this stage this is separate to any Shared Service proposal the office is developing. The group is being transitioned “as is” as a result of the disbanding of DAIS.
  

The PSA raised a concern about reports from Agencies of a proposed date early in 2008 for the implementation of Shared Services. Given no timeline has been provided to the PSA at the WCG meetings, the PSA is concerned about the lack of information provided to the PSA which is being provided to Agencies, and the mixed messages to members.

If the PSA is to be genuinely consulted through this process, members deserve to have details of what timelines the Government is working to, rather than be told at the last minute. The PSA has written to Government about this, seeking clarification on when a decision is likely to be made.

The PSA will continue to keep members informed of developments. Should you have any queries, please contact PSA Industrial Officer Josie Barbaro on jxb@cpsu.asn.au or 8205 3295.

PSA/CPSU WORKING FOR MEMBERS

13 September 2007